Wagon loader



G. E; ELDER Y WAGON LOADER May 21, 1957 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. 27,1953 INVENTOR.

. Gene E. E ldr y 1, 1957 G. E; ELDER 2,792,952

WAGON LOADER Filed Oct. 27, 1953 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Gene E. Elder v JNVENTOR.

G. E. ELDER May 21, 1957 WAGON LOADER 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Oct. 27,1953 Gene E. Elder INVENTOR.

United States Patent WAGON LOADER Gene E. Elder, Cherokee, IowaApplication October 27, 1953, Serial No. 388,610

1 Claim. (Cl. 214-83.26)

This invention relates to a wagon loader, and more specifically providesan elevator for conveying material to or from a wagon, or otherconveyance.

An object of this invention is to provide a wagon loader detachablysecured to a conveyance and having a drive meansextending beneath theconveyance and connected to a suitable power source for driving theelevator. Another object of this invention is to provide a wagon loadercomprising an elevator for removing and loading material from a wagonand more specifically provided with a hopper and an endless conveyorbelt or chain for moving the material.

A further object of this invention is to provide a wagon loaderspecifically designed for detachable association with a wagon whereinthe elevator may be disconnected and the wagon employed in its normaluses.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide a wagon loader whichmay be used for various loading and unloading purposes and which issimple in construction, easy and efficient in operation, sturdy inconstruction and comprising readily obtainable materials wherein theeconomic feasibility of the device is facilitated.

These together with other objects and advantages which will becomesubsequently apparent reside in the details of construction andoperation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, whereinlike numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevational View of the wagon loader of thisinvention in position for loading the wagon;

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the construction of Figure 1 showing aportion of the wagon body broken away;

Figure 3 is a side elevation showing the wagon loader in a position tounload material from the wagon and deposit it in a suitable receptacle;

Figure 4 is a longitudinal, vertical section taken substantially alongsection line 44 of Figure 2, showing details of the elevating conveyorand the drive means for the wagon loader;

Figure 5 is a transverse, vertical section taken substantially alongsection line 5-5 of Figure 4, showing details of the wagon loader hoistmeans wherein the angular relation of the wagon loader may be changed;

Figure 6 is a top plan section taken substantially along section line6--6 of Figure 4, showing details of the conveyor drive means;

Figure 7 is a sectional view taken substantially along line 7-7 ofFigure 2, showing details of the elevator hoist lock means;

7 Figure 8 is a detail side elevation of the discharge spout of thewagon loader;

, Figure-9 is a longitudinal section taken substantially along sectionline 9--9 of Figure 8, showing details of the conveyor belt tightener;

Figure 10 is a detail section taken substantially along section line10-10 of Figure 9, showing details of the slidable bearing block for theconveyor roller; and

. a wagon, generally indicated by the numeral 12, which is attached to adrawbar 14 of a tractor 16 by suitable hitching means 18. The wagon 12includes a plurality of ground engaging wheels 20 supporting a wagonbody 44 with a conventional frame generally indicated by the numeral 24wherein the wagon 12 may be moved over a suitable surface when thetractor 16 is driven. As shown in Figure 4, the frame 24 includesaligned apertures forming a bearing for a rotatable shaft 26 positionedunder the body 22 of the wagon 12 and projecting from each end of theframe 24'. At the forward end of the shaft 26 is a universal joint 28connecting a drive shaft 30 to the shaft 26 and the drive shaft 30 isconnected to the power take-off shaft 32 by a suitable universal joint34. It will be understood that the drive shaft '30 transmits rotationalmotion from the take-cit shaft 32 to the .shaft 26 thereby rotating theshaft 26 regardless of the angular direction of the tractor 16 inrelation to the wagon 12. As shown in Figures 1 and 2, an elongatedrotatable shaft 36 is secured to the rear end of the shaft 26 by asuitable universal joint 38 and the other end of the shaft 36 isprovided with a bevel gear 40 thereon for a purpose describedhereinafter.

As best shown in Figures 2 and 4, it will be seen that the wagon loader10 includes an-elongated frame-like trough member 42 having a roundedlower end portion 44 with a hopper 46 positioned thereon forming anentrance to the wagon loader 10. A pair of transverse shafts 48 and 50are located at the remote ends of the conveyor housing 42 with a spurgear 52 on the shaft 48 and a spur gear 54 on the shaft 50. The spurgears 52 and 54 are located adjacent the center of the shaft and alongthe longitudinal center line of the conveyor housing 42 for receivinganendless chain conveyor 56 thereover with projecting slats 58 thereonfor elevating material along a conveyor bottom 60 in engagement with theunder surface of the upper run of the endless chain 56. The upperend ofthe conveyor housing 42 is provided with a downwardly opening dischargespout 62 on the opposite side of the housing 42 from the inlet hopper 46wherein the material may be discharged into a suitable bin or truckgenerally indicated by the numeral 54.

As shown in Figure 6, the transverse shaft 48 is journaled in suitableballbearings 66 and projecting end portions 68 of the shaft aresupported in rearwardly projecting brackets 70 secured to the lowerportion of the transverse member of the wagon frame 24. The rearwardlyprojecting brackets 70 are provided with an arcuate recess 72 alongtheir upper edge for receiving the end portion 68 of the rotatable shaft48. A bevel gear 74 is secured to one end of the shaft 48 in meshingengagement with the bevel gear 40 on the end of the elongated shaft 36or a shorter shaft 76 which is used when the wagon loader 10 is used ina position to unload the wagon 12. A projecting portion of the shaft 48,indicated by the numeral 78, is supported in suitable bearings 80 at itsend portion and the bearing 80 is supported by a frame member 82 havingguide bearings 84 for supporting the shaft 76 or 36 so that the bevelgears 44) and 74 are retained in alignment. It will be seen that one ofthe bearings 66 is supported on a projecting arm 86, carried by thebracket member 82 wherein the shaft 36 or 76 may be revolved in angularrelation about the shaft 48 to permit the conveyoror wagon loader 10 tobe moved in angular relationto the wagon 12. i

As shown in Figures and 6 in detail, a rotatableshaft 88 is positionedtransversely of the conveyor housing 42 midway of the longitudinallength of the housing and is supported thereon by suitable bearingbrackets 90 and the remote ends thereof are provided with a pair ofcablewinding drums 92 and a handle member 94 is secured to one end ofthe shaft 88 at its outermost end. The ratchet gear 96 is secured to oneof the drums 92 between the conveyor housing 42 and the drum 92 .and aspring urged pawl 98 is secured to the conveyor housing 42 by suitableU-shaped bracket 100 and a handle 102 is positioned at the remote end ofthe pawl 98 wherein the pawl 98 may be released from the ratchet gear 96permitting the winding drums 92 to be rotated by the handle 94. Aflexible cable 104 is attached to the winding drum 92 at one end and theother end thereof is attached to an upstanding lug 106 secured to anupstanding member on the frame 24 at the remote edges of the framewherein the angular relationship of the housing 42 and the wagon 12 maybe adjusted about the axis formed when the shaft 48 is positioned on thebracket 70 in the recess portion 72 and the short shaft 76 is used foroperating the wagon loader 10.

Referring now specifically to Figures 8-10, it will be seen that theupper rotatable shaft 50 includes end portions 108 journaled in bearingblocks 110 which are generally rectangular in nature and slidablymounted in an elongated channel member 112 secured to the housing 42 bysuitable securing means 114. As will be seen, the channel member 112 andthe side of the housing 42 are provided with elongated slots 116 forsliding movement of the shaft 50. A threaded member 118 is rotatablysecured to the bearing block 110 and is threadably engaged with aprojecting lug 120 and provided with a polygonal end portion 122 and alock nut 124 wherein the bearing block 110 may be moved in thelongitudinal slot 116 in the channel member 112 by manipulation of thescrew threaded member 118. The threaded engagement with the projectinglug 120 will cause the screw threaded member to move longitudinally ofthe housing 42 and thereby tightening the conveyor chain 56 to a desireddegree of tautness. The setscrew 124 may be tightened against the outeredge of the projecting lug 120 to retain the screw threaded member 118in its adjusted position. It will be understood that the adjustmentmeans, as above described, is positioned on each side of the channelshaped housing 42 for simultaneously tightening the endless conveyorbelt 56 by movement of the shaft 50.

As shown in Figures 8 and 11, the depending spout 62 may be providedwith outstanding peripheral flanges 126 for rotatably receiving anextension 128. The extension 128 is provided with oppositely disposedextensions 130 and an extension member 132 is pivotally mounted on theprojecting lugs 130 for limited angular movement thereabout. Anupstanding eye member 134 is secured to the bottom end of the dischargespout 62 and an upstanding lug 136 is positioned on the extension 132and a flexible chain 138 connects the lugs 134 and 136 wherein thedistance between the lugs is adjustable and the angular relationship ofthe spout 132 and the discharge spout 62 may be adjusted by shorteningthe distance between the lugs 134 and 136 in an obvious manner.

As shown in the drawings, the wagon body 22 is provided with a dischargeclosure generally indicated by the numeral 140 and the hopper 46 isprovided with a transverse member 142 forming a handle therefor and alsopreventing the hopper 46 from becoming overloaded in an obvious manner.As shown in Figure 6, the side of the housing 42 adjacent the bevelgears 74 and 40 is provided with a lug 142 having an aperture 144therein and the bracket 82 is provided with a lug 146 which has anaperture therein for matching with the aperture 144 and the lug 142 whenthe wagon loader is placed in a position to load the wagon substantiallyas shown in Fig- 4 .ures 1 and .2, wherein the bevel gears 74 and 40 areretained in their correct relative position.

The operation of the device will be readily understood. As shown inFigure 4, the shaft 48 is positioned on the bracket 70 with the hopper46 under the discharge of the wagon and the discharge spout 62 isadjusted vertically by manipulation of the handle 94 thereby winding thesupporting cable 104 thereabout and changing the angular relationbetween the wagon and the conveyor housing 42. As will be understood,the tractor takeoff is operated thereby turning the shafts 26 and 76 andoperating the conveyor in an obvious manner. When it is desired to movethe wagon loader 10 to a position for loading the wagon, as shown inFigures 1 and 2, the hopper 46 is moved remote from the wagon and theshort shaft 76 is replaced with the long shaft 36 after the bracket 82had been swung about the axis of the shaft 48 and the lugs 142 and 146have been secured in correct relation. The tension adjuster for theconveyor operates in an obvious manner, as does the various dischargespouts. The device may be specially utilized in connection with adump-type wagon or thje like, and may be readily detachable therefrom,wherein the wagon may be readily usable for many purposes.

From the foregoing, the construction and operation of the device will bereadily understood and further explanation is believed to beunnecessary. However, since numerous modifications and changes willreadily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limitthe invention to the exact construction shown and described, andaccordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resortedto, falling within the scope of the appended claim.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

In combination with a wheeled wagon having a frame :and a body portion,a wagon loader disposed exteriorly of said body portion, said wagonloader comprising an inclined elevating conveyor, a hopper at the lowerend of said conveyor, said conveyor including an endless chain, meansfor tensioning said chain, projections on said chain for transportingmaterial, bracket means mounted on said frame for detachably supportingthe lower end of the conveyor adjacent the body portion, a drive shaftjournaled on said frame and adapted to be connected to a power source,and adjustable means for extending the drive shaft for driving theconveyor chain when the lower end of the conveyor is disposed adjacentto and remote from the body portion for selectively loading andunloading a wagon, said conveyor having a transverse end shaft, a bevelgear on the end shaft, a bracket rotatably journaled on said end shaft,a stub drive shaft journaled on said bracket, a bevel gear on said stubdrive shaft in meshing engagement with the bevel gear on the end shaftwhereby the end shaft and the conveyor may be driven with the stub driveshaft disposed in various angular positions when the drive shaft isconnected to the stub drive shaft when the lower end of the conveyor isselectively disposed "adjacent to and remote from the body portion.

' References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,515,327 Barkmann et a1 Nov. 11, 192.4- 1,841,525 Evensen Jan. 19, 19322,302,840 Chart-rand Nov. 24, 1942 2,401,465 Cwicig June 4, 19462,410,996 Patterson Nov. 12, 1946 2,422,268 Symonds June 17, 19472,490,241 Smith et a1 Dec. 6, 1949 2,539,021 Kitchens Jan. 23, 1951FOREIGN PATENTS 305,784 Great Britain Feb. 14, 1929 127,882 Sweden Apr.4, 1950

